The SF jazz scene for children

We've been busy here since my last post, traveling to Mexico and London, watching the tsunami roll in, and generally living and loving life. But at long last, I'm back on the blog. Here's the latest:

Today we went to a jazz show at Herbst Theatre. That in itself is nothing unique, but the fact that we took the kids makes it a special event. Normally, I would not consider taking four-year-old Emil, who is something of a hell raiser, to a jazz show. But this show was different. It was planned with young audiences in mind.

Marcus Shelby and the other 2/3rds of his trio played a few tunes for the matinee audience, and spoke a lot about jazz and blues. They handed out a blues "family tree" that traced the roots of the music back to call and response. They played examples of blues hollers and blues cries, and counted out the measures of a standard, 12-bar blues rhythm so that the older kids and grown-ups among us could start to deconstruct the music and understand its form a little better.

We're definitely interested in catching the next two shows in the series, which will also feature the Marcus Shelby Trio, and will build on the theme of blues music. I hope they will spend a little more time playing music, and just a little less time talking. Emil was grooving right along with the music, though, and while a few kids did start to fuss and cry at moments during the show, you could hear all the parents joking together, "Ah, he's just got the blues."

Here are the details for the next two shows in the series, which will be general admission as today's was:

Saturday, April 2 at 11 am
"Family Matinee: The Blues — Telling Stories"
The Marcus Shelby Trio
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Saturday, May 21 at 11 am
"Family Matinee: The Blues — Hearing & Feeling It"
The Marcus Shelby Trio
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco


And if you don't have kids, there are dozens of other shows that might pique your interest. Check it out at JazzWest.com. We're lucky to have this non-profit bringing incredible music to the Bay Area.